ISLAMABAD, Aug 6: The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) discussed on Monday flood-fighting and mitigation measures to ensure that the monsoon season passes without causing any damage to life and property.

Presiding over an inter-provincial meeting of the commission, Federal Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar said extra vigilance and round-the-clock monitoring and patrolling of important structures were important to prevent any untoward incident, in addition to effective flood management through regulation of flows from Tarbela, Chashma and Mangla reservoirs.

The meeting reviewed progress on restoration work on dykes and the state of preparedness of the provinces and federal departments.

The minister asked the Met office to ensure timely weather forecast. “Timely and correct flood forecast will certainly help manage the flood situation and reduce the damage to life and property,” he said.

The minister said there should be complete preparedness to ensure that flood from Rawalpindi’s Nullah Lai passes without out causing any damage.

The water and power secretary, chairmen of Wapda, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Indus River System Authority, director-general of the Met office and representatives of provincial irrigation departments, Army Engineering Corps, Planning Commission, Communications Division and the FFC attended the meeting.

The meeting was informed that standard operating procedures of Tarbela Dam were being revisited for enhancing its role in mitigating future floods.